Nelson Mandela - Celebrating his life (Pictures)

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The service is being seen as a celebration of the life of Nelson Mandela with the crowd singing and chanting as they arrived inside the stadium
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A mourner poses with his home-made hat as he arrives at the stadium.​

 

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Plastic sheeting is removed from chairs on the main stage. More than 90 current heads of state or government attended
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The crowds were in high spirits - singing and dancing and stomping their feet​

 

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For some the long wait is too much
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Pictures of Mandela are everywhere, on banners, flags and even tattoos.
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The country is observing a series of commemorations leading up to the funeral on Sunday
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Final glimpse: The head of former South African leader Nelson Mandela is just visible as his body lies in state on a day when thousands of ordinary South Africans queued up to pay their respects

Waiting to see their hero: This image shows thousands of South Africans queuing for around two miles to get on buses to take them to view Nelson Mandela's body

Determined: Mourners then faced huge queues at the Union Buildings where Mr Mandela's body is lying in state

Time to grief: Nelson Mandela was today given back to ordinary South Africans on a day of viewing reserved for the solely for the general public
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Time to grief: Nelson Mandela was today given back to ordinary South Africans on a day of viewing reserved for the solely for the general public

Anti-apartheid icon: Nelson Mandela's body is transported from the mortuary to the government buildings on each of the three morning his coffin lies in state

One mourner, Anita Bodiba, 35, said: 'I can't even sleep, I'm thinking of Madiba. He is the one who united us here in South Africa - white people, black people, Indian people'​

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Overwhelming popularity: Hundreds of mourners queue for buses before heading to the Union Buildings in Pretoria, where Nelson Mandela's body is lying in state



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A day for the people: Until now the cameras of the world have often been trained on leaders, VIPs and celebrities paying tribute to a man known for his common touch

Tribute: Winnie Mandela said her family would remember her former husband as a man who gave his whole life 'to the nation and to the world'

Patient: People standing in line as they queue to view the coffin during the lying in state at the Union Buildings in Pretori

Day trip: People with umbrellas queue along a road on the second of three days of public viewing set aside to see Mr Mandela's body

Lying in state: Many returned to the Union Buildings for another chance to see the late leader's body, with the entire day given over to general public access

Hoping to get their chance: Visitors arrive by bus to line up to pay their respects to former South African President Nelson Mandela

Visitors leave after viewing the body of Nelson Mandela who died at his home last Thursday at the age of 95
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All walks of life: A police officer helps an elderly lady line up to view the body of former South African president Nelson Mandela




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Reflecting: A visitor pauses after viewing the body of Nelson Mandela which was brought to the Union buildings in a cortege from the 1 Military Hospital

Respect: Nelson Mandela's body will lie in state for three days as part of ten days of events commemorating the life of Mr Mandela

Celebrating his life: A street vendor wears a button with an image of former South African president Nelson Mandela outside the Union Buildings

Emotional: A mourner walks away after viewing Nelson Mandela's body on Wednesday when many people were turned away before getting a chance to see him

Overcome: A mourner weeps into her scarf while holding a South African flag after paying her respects to Mr Mandela
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Mixed emotions: Children at a Christmas Party celebrating the life of former South African president Nelson Mandela at the museum in Qunu

Lighting up people's lives: A flame burns in honour of former South African president Nelson Mandela at the museum in Qunu

Worldwide appeal: A woman writes her condolences in a book for Nelson Mandela during a memorial service at the Sint-Gudule Cathedral in Brussels

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Preparations: Police stop cars from using a main road running past Nelson Mandela's home as the construction of a dome is completed that will be used at his funeral
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Preparations continue in Qunu for the funeral of Nelson Mandela. Mr Mandela passed away on the evening of December 5, 2013 at his home in Houghton at the age of 95.

The remote region, where Nelson Mandela grew up, is being transformed to accommodate the thousands expected to attend his funeral​

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Local life goes on in Qunu, as preparations continue for the funeral of former South African president and civil rights campaigner Nelson Mandela



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